The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-24

4 curiOu, crowd OF street pOAsi news
paper vendors. bootblacks and the like
followed Che policeman and his two little
prisoners 10 the station house.
His honor was taking dinner. would not
hold court today. and the two waits were
put into % comfortable cell upstairs.
Rae cried herself to sleep, while Bot
ties. hero like. sat by her side upon the
cot and kept cheering her up by telling
her that 90 would be all right in the
morning
And down stairs. under lock and key,
the mlucky purse and ring were lying in
the desk drawer.
Next"
The two waits. Bottles and Rags, were
pushed forward until they stood in front
Of the desk before bis honor
BLESS me- what's thlsf Little ones,
what are you doing here, asked the kind
faced Judge. beaming down upon the pair,
through set of gold bowed glasses.
Bottles knew 10 was not proper for him
TO speak, and Rags could not.
Officer, what is the charge against this
pair" asked the judge Of the policeman
who had made the arrest.
stealing q purse your honor
"Ah. that Is a serious charge
but. SIR q amt '---
Never mind, ny little man; your turn
will come Let tbe party who made the
complaint stand forward. '
a tail man, clad in clerical garments.
with long drawn Ni-age stepped for
ward The corners Of bis trap ike
mouth were drawn down IN
most solemn expression lie clasped
hi, hands i'm front Of him. and turned
his ewes upon the little waits. as though
even their presence was unhOly 20 his
cloth
Your Nance uttered the Judge
Rev Abraham Clearstarch
Bottles could hardly hold in the litter,
which. notwithstanding the solemnity Of
the occasion. vs. ready Zoo bubble from
hi- lips
on are "a minister, are YOU nOt,'
The reverend gentlemen bowed.
MIR Clearstarch. you may state your
case in as few words a. possible
Yes. sir Day before yesterday after
noon. ] purchased airing for nay daughter.
! pat the ring into my purse and walked
down 10 India wharf upon business.
Upon returning 90 my hotel found that
my purse was gone retraced my steps,
but 100 no avail; / could not find my
purse Yesterday afternoon 40 dinner IN
tlc hotel where ! was stopping ] saw
,Le ring upon the finger OF this girl
recognized the ring, and knew
at once chat She must know of the
purse ! left the dining room found an
officer and bad him make the arrest The
g.ri picked my pocket
sure Of that Mr. Clearstarchy asked
his honor.
"She must have done SO. certainly
could not have lost 20, responded the
reverend gentleman.
"Nas the purse and ring found upon
the person OF the culprit asked The judge
Of the officer
"rhc ring was upon the girls finger,
the purse 100 the boys pocket
bad case Now. my little man, tell
your story
"If YOU please, sir, I'm only boy,
rough and an that, sir swear sum
times aud-maybe you wouldn't believe
me Shell tel you an bout &c. You
see. she's only little girl what haint
got no friend in an the world but Bottles
Bottles is me. SIR Rags is her name.
She never swear- and-she never picked
his pockets ! know that, cause I'm her
father you see
Bottles had found his tongue and be de
liyered the foregoing I'M q straightforward
way, which made the judge smile good
naturally
Nov Rags, tell it all Don't De
feared The gospel sharp can hurt us, 80
whispered Bottles 90 the trembling girl by
his side
With frequent sobs and choking excla-
nations Rags told her story, which You
already know She also told how GOOD
Bottles had been 90 her; how he had often
gone without anything 70 eat so that she
should have food In ALL she gave faith
ful picture Of the peculiar life which
surrounded the pair. The judge was as
sured OF her truth, and after she had
ceased, he said
Its evident that the girl has told what
is true. Is there any one In the room &C
quainted with the pairi' 4 sleek, fat
jolly looking man stepped forward and
said.
~ know them, your honor keep a
butcher shop down in South street A
HtWrbD1 tdlllt anu lNiA JIG lt0k A4EAA hlitt
Bottles and Rags had been arrested. Your
honor, stand here 10 sag, from the bot
tom Of my heart, that | know both Of
them 10 be honest, square and upright
They are unfortunate children OF the
street who make ga honest living.
hope your honor won't be hard on the TWO
poor little kids.
They are both discharged. Mr. Clear
starch, you viii get your purse and ringo Of
the clerk. one thing mOre-yOu II not find
the whole amount. The cashier OF the Craw-
ford restaurant just sent me n note, tell
iug how the two little unfortunates en-
loved their Thanksgiving dinner at his
place Yesterday OF course, having re
covered your property, you viii willingly
donate that dinner for charitys sake.
Next
The Rev Abraham Clearstarch got his
purse and ring, and went on his way.
And Bottles and Rags found in a kindly
stranger who had been present a friend IN
whom philanthropy was largely devel
oped The pair are, this day Of Thanks
giving, eating noble dinner at home In
one Of our great western states.
At last the two waits Bottles and Rags,
are safely harbored from the sterner blows
Of poverty II. :. Keller In Commercial